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"Wait…"
The voice was old, frail, coming from behind. Might Guy turned and saw two faces he never expected.
The two village elders, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
Guy's thick eyebrows shot up. "The two of you?"
Homura spoke, his voice steady. "The village has already lost too many jōnin. You, Guy, are the pride of the younger generation. Your Eight Gates technique… it is Konoha's last, and strongest, shield."
Koharu's tone was grim. "Besides… sacrificing yourself to take down a 'hostage Jinchūriki manipulated by the enemy'? The true loss would be Konoha's."
Manipulated by the enemy… Guy's mind raced. So Naruto really is…! I should have known. No matter how talented, growth has limits. Naruto was away training with Lord Jiraiya for only nine months. There's no way he could reach such heights so fast… not naturally.
Homura adjusted his glasses. "Of course, this is just the conclusion we old men have drawn based on common sense. How the rest of the village sees it… well, that's another matter."
"Regardless," Koharu continued, "there is no place for Naruto in Konoha anymore. That is the reality both the village… and the boy himself… must face."
Homura nodded. "But what's done is done. Now, we must consider how to salvage the situation."
Guy's expression hardened. "Then… what are you proposing?"
The two elders exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them.
"We stay," Homura said. "We cover the retreat. The rest is up to you. Escort everyone to safety. Make them understand that Naruto is being used. Prevent our allies from mourning a tragedy our enemies orchestrated."
BOOM—!!!
In the distance, Chōza Akimichi collapsed, his giant form shrinking as he fell, spent. The Susano'o's massive foot advanced.
"But as you can see," Guy argued, urgency sharpening his voice, "Naruto—no, the thing controlling him—is using power beyond reason!!!"
Sakura's tear-filled eyes snapped up. "Controlling him…? Naruto's being controlled to attack the village…!?"
Homura chuckled softly, pushing his glasses up. "In other words, you're worried we two old relics can't handle this. That we'd just be throwing our lives away. Is that it?"
Guy chose his words carefully. "Well… you are both of advanced age…"
Koharu cut him off. "Don't worry. We're old, but our minds are clear. That is a Susano'o. More precisely, a Perfect Susano'o. It is the ultimate ocular power, achievable only by those who have reached the absolute peak of Uchiha prowess."
Guy's blood ran cold. The peak of Uchiha power… Then, the one controlling Naruto is… the legendary…
"Lord Second Hokage long suspected Madara might still be alive," Homura explained. "After Lord First passed, to guard against Madara's return… or the rise of another Uchiha like him… he taught us a secret technique. One designed specifically to counter the Uchiha."
With that, Homura and Koharu walked past Guy.
"Tell Tsunade when you see her," Koharu said, her voice firm. "We are old. We are set in our ways. Stubborn. But our hearts, our will to sacrifice for Konoha, has never wavered. We simply… never had the opportunity before."
"Now," Homura finished, "is our time to return to the earth."
Guy watched their determined, fading backs. A deep, profound respect swelled within him.
"Then at least… let me give you a proper send-off!!!"
WHOOSH—!!!
The blue steam of the Seventh Gate, the Gate of Wonder, erupted once more. Guy shot forward.
"Guy-sensei! Let me assist you too!!"
Rock Lee's green aura of the Fifth Gate flared as he followed.
On the shattered field ahead, Chōza lay small and broken, having reverted from his giant form. Both arms and one leg were gone. His breathing was shallow, fading.
Looks like… this is my limit. Forgive me… I couldn't hold him long enough for everyone to escape…
"Warrior of the Akimichi. Allow me to grant you a final rest."
'Madara-Naruto' looked down. The Susano'o's colossal foot lifted, carrying a sliver of cruel affection as it began its merciless descent.
—DAYTIME TIGER—!!!
But then—a white tiger of pure concussive force roared upward. It slammed into the sole of the descending foot.
KRA-KOOM!!!
The impact echoed across the ruins. For three precious seconds, the gigantic foot halted in mid-air.
Three seconds was all Lee needed. He blurred, grabbed Chōza, and vanished from the shadow of destruction.
'Madara-Naruto' wasn't angry. He laughed. "You came. Still using the blue vapor? You insult me."
Guy landed, stance solid. "I am not your opponent."
"Not you…" The shared gaze shifted downward, to the two ant-like figures at the Susano'o's feet. "Then… these two half-dead fossils?"
Homura and Koharu shared one last nod. In unison, they tore away their formal robes, standing ready in light gear. They began to move, circling the Susano'o's legs in a dizzying, criss-crossing pattern.
As they ran, their hands flew into seals. The rhythm was identical, perfectly synchronized.
But the sequence… was mirrored.
Shu! Shu! The final seal for Koharu was the first for Homura.
—FORBIDDEN TECHNIQUE: YIN-YANG DISSOLUTION FIELD—!!!
A circle of light ignited on the ground, tracing the path their feet had just carved. It shot upward, forming a towering, seamless cylinder of white energy. It climbed higher, higher—soaring past the Susano'o's head—and sealed shut at the top, trapping the colossal warrior within.
Inside the Susano'o's forehead chamber, Izuna's eyes widened. "A barrier…!? One so vast it can contain Brother's Perfect Susano'o completely!?"
"Hmph."
'Madara-Naruto' snorted. The Susano'o drew its greatsword and swung horizontally at the shimmering wall.
CRACKLE—!!!
The moment the blade touched the light, it disintegrated into dust.
He stared at the stump in the Susano'o's hand. "This barrier's formula… it dissolved the Susano'o blade. No… that's impossible. Only Yin-Yang Release power can do that. Which means… this technique was developed specifically to target Uchiha chakra. Hah… I think I know who crafted this little trick."
SHWIP—!
The barrier began to contract. Fast.
Izuna panicked. "Brother! They're trying to dissolve us completely—!!"
"Relax. It's just a Susano'o. We can discard it."
Using a tailed beast chakra arm, 'Madara-Naruto' grabbed Izuna and leaped clear of the construct. From his Asura Path arm-cannon, he fired a concentrated Tailed Beast Bomb, blasting a temporary hole in the contracting light.
As the field collapsed into itself, the magnificent, terrifying form of the Perfect Susano'o shattered into nothingness.
Homura and Koharu stood panting. The forbidden technique had drained them. Their chakra was nearly gone.
THUD.
'Madara-Naruto' landed before them. His eyes held their death sentence.
Homura slung a scroll over his neck. Koharu drew a chain-and-weight weapon, dust rising from its long-unused links.
They did not look back. Their final shout was for the man still watching from the ruins.
"GO! DO WHAT WE ASKED OF YOU!!"
And then…
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, the last of the old guard, charged.
Like moths to a flame, they hurled themselves at the enemy. They had chosen to be buried with the old Konoha, to use their blood and souls as the foundation upon which a new village could rise.
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